#rivervale_lodge

She shrugs.

"I like Tove. She's nice."

"She is," He says "But you know something?"

"Yeah?"

"If I had to pick between her as a girlfriend, or you as my ward? I'd pick you. " A shrug

She blinks, nonplussed - apparently that was NOT what she expected to hear.

"But why?"

"Hard to explain" He admits, then sips and tries to think it over.

A thoughtful look, quiet - not hostile, not angry, but perhaps still wary.

"I can't teach Tove." He finally says "I can't show her the world the way I can show you. It's not a pity thing, or a 'you need me more' thing. It's that when she takes what I show her, and then shows it back? It's done already. I feel like I haven't done squat. You? When I show you what I know, even if you disagree after you mull it over, I feel like more has been done, that I've been allowed to partake more into this. That's not all of it, but it's ..well, I'm not good with words. It's not duty. I like the way you make me feel like I'm useful, and I like how I look at one thing, and you show me no, it can be seen like this too."

A slow nod. "...Okay."

"I hope so," he says "So. Did you think about it? "

"Have been."

"Thanks. I know it takes time. But it's good to know you're mulling it over"

"Haven't decided yet. Things too good to be true usually are, yeah?"

"If it makes you feel any better, I don't think me as your guardian would be too good to be true. I've been told I'm boring."

She snorts.

Shrug

"Boring is okay."

"thanks."

A cautious statement. "Boring is usually safe."

"Now and then, but I'd hate to live a boring life all the time. " he says "I like quiet, but sameoldsameold everyday allthe day would get to me after a while. Fishing, hiking thorugh the woods, sometime it's the type of quiet I choose at that time that keeps things interesting for me."

"That ain't boring."

"No, the thing I do are actually pretty cool I would like to think, I myself am boring to some." A shrug "Not the same thing i guess"

"Well, boring is okay."

A nod "thanks."

"But I hope you have more than boring in your life. Whehter it's with me or..." effort 'or someone else. I hope you get to be happy. that's what matters right now."

"But... but I am happy. I like it here."

"The Browns are okay. They... they seem okay.."

"I'm lucky to have them. Most kids with my file, they wouldn't get placed. Especially not with fosters like that..."

"You are welcome here no matter what choice you make" He says "But, I think ... I think you would be cared for more with me and the others of the lodge than you are there. I think you would be appreciated more. I know I would appreciate you more than they do. They're nice enough, but they don't see what a great kid you are. I do." A shrug

She chews on her thumbnail. "Maybe you should look at it, though."

"Fostering? I think they'd give me some other kid" He snorts, "Don't want another kid. "

She ducks her head, frowning. "Mean my file. Maybe then you'd see, you know?"

"If you want, I will try to get a look at your file" He says

She wraps her arms tight around her torso, looking miserable... but she nods.

"Then you'll see, right?"

"I'll read, what I'l lsee after reading? Let's wait until I have before either of us jumps to conclusions, okay?"

She nods. "Okay."

He holds out his hand "Deal"

After eyeing the hand a moment, she reaches out to take it. "Deal."

The shake is firm but warm, and there's no feeling anyone is being hustled. There's..honor in this. He will look at the files. She knows he will. And she has to not guess what he'll decide until she hears it. That part? that will be hard

But... she'll try.

"You want to stay the night with the other girls? or need an escort back home?"

"School night, I should go..."

A nod, "Which one of you dogs wants to esco.." Both Dogs spring up and wag "Okay, they are creepy smart dogs.. They'll walk you half way"

"You wanna...?"

"I'll go with em, otherwise they'll chase a squirel" Unless she objects, she, the dogs, and jaymes have a quiet walk out

She walks with the three, quiet but not unhappy.

Indeed, it's nice quiet night where they can just share the scene in silence.